New motor vehicle sales

New motor vehicle sales continued to recover in November, increasing by 3.1%. Dealers saw 136,226 new vehicles roll out of their showrooms in November, an increase of about 4,200 vehicles over the previous month.

An upward trend in new motor vehicle sales since the start of 2005 peaked in the summer, and had since fallen off following the winding down of "employee pricing" and other incentive programs in the fall. Despite two consecutive months of moderate increases in October and November, the number of new vehicles sold nation-wide has only returned to a monthly sales figure in line with recent historical levels. In 2004, new motor vehicle sales remained relatively stable, after a series of increases early in the year.

Based on preliminary figures from the auto industry, the number of new motor vehicles sold in December remained largely unchanged from November.

Trucks continue to be the market mover

Although car and truck sales moved in opposite directions in November, truck sales (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) continued to be the dominating factor in determining the direction and strength of new motor vehicle sales in Canada over the past six months.

Truck sales advanced 8.1% in November on the heels of a similar sized gain in October. Sales reached 66,349 units in November, moving ahead of an average month in 2005 for the first time since the summer. Truck sales had tumbled in August and September, likely influenced by the one-two punch of surging gasoline prices and abating incentive programs.

With sales edging down 1.2% in November, car sales slipped under 70,000 vehicles for the first time since May of 2005. As with trucks, passenger car sales peaked in July. However, fluctuations in subsequent months were much less pronounced than those of trucks. Sales of North American-built cars declined 3.0% in November, while overseas-built cars moved ahead 2.8%.

Until this summer, sales of both cars and trucks had maintained an upward trend in 2005, despite major fluctuations. In recent months, sales of passenger cars and trucks have softened, although truck sales have shown much greater volatility. In 2004, sales remained relatively stable for cars and trucks after some sizeable increases early in the year.

British Columbia bucks the trend

Sales were up in 7 of the 10 provinces in November. In terms of percentage gains, the largest increases came from Prince Edward Island (+27.5%), Saskatchewan (+13.3%), and Newfoundland and Labrador (+11.3%). However, Quebec (+4.7%) and Ontario (+3.9%) were the driving forces behind the increase in November in terms of the number of units sold. Sales in New Brunswick and Manitoba remained largely unchanged during the month.

The region formed by British Columbia and the territories was the only area showing a sizeable decline in November with a 3.4% decrease, or about 500 fewer vehicles sold. Sales in this region have slumped over the past three months, and witnessed only minimal gains in the summer when sales were surging in most other provinces. Despite flagging automotive sales, British Columbia's economy remained buoyant with the unemployment rate at a three decade low in November.

Available on CANSIM: tables 079-0001 and 079-0002.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2402.

The November 2005 issue of New Motor Vehicle Sales (63-007-XIE, $14/$133) will be available soon.

Data on new motor vehicle sales for December 2005 will be released on February 14.

For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Elton Cryderman (613-951-0669), Distributive Trades Division.